The new year has commenced with an action-packed month, seeing our boys’ and girls’ football teams competing in a combined total of 21 fixtures across just four weeks. These games ranged from high-stakes National and Regional Cup ties to Manchester League games and our traditional Saturday morning fixtures.

U15 Boys: Chasing Silverware on Three Fronts 

The U15 Boys enjoyed a truly exceptional month, showcasing not just talent, but real character across three major competitions.

They began the month in dominant fashion with a convincing 7-0 victory over Stockport Grammar in the Independent Schools Football Association (ISFA) Trophy. It was a clinical performance that secured their place in the National Semi-Finals.

Following this, the boys faced a very different challenge against Merchant Taylors in the English Schools’ Football Association (ESFA) Cup. In a tightly contested and physical match, the team had to dig deep, showing immense discipline and resilience to secure a 2-1 win in extra time. This result sees them progress to the National ESFA Quarter-Finals.

Finally, they ended the month on a dramatic high in the Manchester Cup. After a thrilling 3-3 draw in normal time against Co-op Academy, the boys held their nerve to win the penalty shoot-out 6-5, booking their spot in yet another Quarter-Final.

U13 Girls: Representing St Bede’s and Salford FC 

Earlier in the month, our U13 Girls had the opportunity to represent Salford FC at the English Football League (EFL) Area Finals, following their success in round one of the competition. The girls were fantastic ambassadors for both the College and Salford FC, conducting themselves impeccably throughout the tournament. On the pitch, they competed against top schools from across the region. They eventually finished in a creditable 5th place, narrowly missing out on a semi-final spot. It was a wonderful experience for the squad to compete at such a high level.

U14 Girls: Quarter-Final Success 

We rounded off the month in style thanks to the U14 Girls. In a gripping Manchester Cup fixture against Withington Girls’ School, the team put in an excellent performance to edge a 3-2 victory. It was a fitting way to end a busy January, with the girls now looking forward to a Semi-Final fixture in the coming weeks.

A huge well done to all players who represented the college this month. We look forward to carrying this momentum into February!